The Problem of the Day

Volume X - Sufi Mysticism

ART, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

It is most interesting to notice that East and West have
a different, or perhaps contrary, opinion on the subject
of the world's evolution. While in the West man thinks that
we are becoming more evolved, that we have progressed and
are going forward compared to our forefathers, in the East
man believes that compared with our forefathers we are going
backward and downward, that we are worse.

What is the truth about this? From one point of view,
there have never been such good communications in the world
as nowadays. The telegraph and telephone, ships like palaces
floating on the water, airplanes, the gramophone, and the
radio can unite mankind in one moment at any distance. Besides
the development that is taking place in every branch of
science and of art, there are also the modern systems, organizations,
and classifications. When one looks at all of this, one
cannot doubt for one moment that according to modern opinion
the world is evolving. But when we come to delicate thoughts
and sentiments, good manners, knightly chivalry, kingly
attitude, nobleness of spirit, generosity of heart, the
tendency to sacrifice, depth of feeling and keenness of
insight, we are equally certain that what the man of the
East says is true.

We learn from this that both opinions are right. We are
evolving, and yet at the same time going backward. In certain
things we are evolving, and in certain things we are going
backward. This brings us to the philosophical conception
that it is not only the world which is round, but that everything
is round – that everything moves in circles. For instance,
the early dawn is not very different from the late evening.
Old age is not very different from infancy, when we realize
how innocence develops as one grows old – and one arrives
at a stage where one shows the same expression of the angelic
spheres that one had as an infant. It is just like the octave:
seven notes, and then the keynote comes again. It is not
going upward or downward, it is going in a circle. But we
are accustomed to say of everything that it is either going
upward or downward. We may agree with those who say that
we are going upward, or we may agree with those who hold
that we are going downward; but in reality progress does
not mean continually going upward. Progress means going
upward and downward at the same time. Progress should be
described by a circle and not a straight line. If we look
at if from this point of view, everything in the world has
a circular aspect, for the real picture of motion, of movement,
is a circle.

There are three aspects of knowledge: self-knowledge,
the knowledge of another person, and the knowledge of the
collectivity. Also, there are three ways of looking at the
world: its past, its present, and its future. By 'yesterday'
is meant the past; by 'today' is meant the present; and
by 'tomorrow' is meant the future. The knowledge of the
past gives wisdom; the knowledge of the present gives power;
and the knowledge of the future gives peace. The one who
is anxious to acquire knowledge must consider all these
three aspects to be equally important.

For those who are treading the spiritual path, it is
as necessary to think of the world, especially at the present
time, as it is to think of someone else and of themselves.
No one should think that by position or rank, by profession
or occupation, by condition or situation, he is too limited
to think of the world. Each of us should realize that we
are a self-sufficient particle of the whole. Each particle
is responsible for the evolution of the world, in proportion
to the place it occupies in the cosmos. Everything a man
naturally knows first about himself, and then about another,
is of the greatest importance when he also begins to know
something about the world at large. What he should know
is what the world was, what the world is now, and what it
will be in the future.

In the self-knowledge of past, present, and future, one
has to learn what was the origin of the soul. One has to
learn how the soul has formed itself, how it has come to
manifest, the knowledge of the process of manifestation,
and the different stages through which it has passed towards
manifestation. Regarding the present, one should learn one's
own condition; the condition of one's spirit, mind, and
body; one's situation in life and one's relationship to
others; and one should also realize how far the soul reaches
in the spiritual spheres. Regarding the future, one should
find the answers to the questions: 'Am I preparing for something
that is to come, and what is there to come?' 'If life is
a journey, what is the object of this journey? What is the
destination, and how shall I reach it?' 'What preparations
must I make for this journey, and what must I carry to make
the journey easy?' 'What are the difficulties that I may
meet on my way?' It is the understanding of these questions
which is the knowledge of the future. And it is self-knowledge
that helps man to know the past, the present, and the future
of another. For those who know themselves, another person
is like an open book; they can read him clearly. His past
is clear to them, and also his present and future.

There are many ways in which people try to know about
the past, present, and future: by astrology, by palmistry,
by physiognomy (reading the features), and in many other
ways. Although all such methods can be helpful and give
us some knowledge – for knowledge is within our reach and
we only have to ask for it and it is given – yet by self-realization
we can understand this knowledge so clearly at a certain
stage, that no other method is necessary. It becomes natural,
as it is natural for the eyes to see. So it becomes natural
for the heart to see into the past, present, and future.

Looking into the past is just like looking down from
a great height. It means probing the depths of life. Looking
into the present is just like observing a wide horizon,
as wide as we can see. Looking into the future is like looking
upward to the zenith. And the feeling we experience is different
with each of these three ways of looking. One gives knowledge;
the other gives power; and the third gives peace, as I mentioned
before. Knowledge is man's birthright, and it is also the
sustenance of the soul. It is to gather knowledge that the
soul has come to earth; the acquisition of knowledge is
the only purpose the soul has in coming here. In knowledge
lies the satisfaction of the soul, the fulfillment of the
purpose of life.